College makeover

THE former St Mary's College boarding school in Grafton will soon receive a make over.

In a development application to the Clarence Valley Council, the Sisters of Mercy congregation have applied to have the boarding school developed into units.

The school, which has been vacant for about a decade, will be turned into six apartments which could eventually house up to 12 nuns from the Sisters of Mercy order.

Sisters of Mercy finance and resources manager Alan Schofield said permanent accommodation in Grafton was necessary for the nuns.

"They (the sisters) are working throughout different parishes in rented accommodation and it just makes sense that since there is a facility here that has been lying vacant for a while, we might as well make use of it," he said.

Mr Schofield said the cost of construction was expected to be between $1.5 and $2 million.

He said the units were part of a master plan for the parish, which would eventually see the redevelopment of the area ranging from the corner of Villiers and Victoria streets down to the old Catherine McAuley school site.